Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Boston Bruins (41-13-12) begin a two-game swing through the Sunshine State with a Tuesday contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning (41-19-5) at Amalie Arena in Tampa. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the Bruins-Lightning odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Bruins at Lightning: Projected starting goalies

Tuukka Rask vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy

Rask shut out the New York Islanders with 25 saves Saturday. The effort was a bounce-back after having allowed a combined 10 goals over his previous two starts. In 10 post-break starts, Rask has posted a 1.85 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. He’s registered a .910 SV% over two previous starts against Tampa Bay has logged a 2.16 GAA and .928 SV% in 38 games.

Vasilevskiy has logged a 2.62 GAA and .914 SV% through 48 games this season. He has stopped 61 of 66 shots in two appearances against the Bruins. Vasilevskiy is coming off a monster January (1.58 GAA, .948 SV%) followed by a backslide in February (2.91 GAA, .902 SV%). Those February numbers were very much influenced by the 25-year-old’s last four starts. Vasilevskiy carded an anemic .839 over that quartet of starts.


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Bruins at Lightning: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 11 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Boston 3, Tampa Bay 2

Moneyline (ML)

Boston is perhaps too far out over its skis with a mark of 41-13-12, but the Lightning haven’t played well of late, are without C Steven Stamkos (abdominal) and are throwing out the lesser side of this goaltending matchup.

The price is right on the Bruins, who are 7-2 over their last nine road games and 5-1 over their last six contests played on two days of rest. TAKE BOSTON (+100).

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

PASS on the puck line without enough value on the Bruins’ (+1.5, -278) side of the line.

Over/Under (O/U)

Trends on the Over/Under are mixed. The Under is a lean in principle, but we’re going to PASS on the line of 5.5 (Under: +110).

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

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Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Thursday’s Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning NHL matchup, with NHL betting odds, picks and best bets.

The Tampa Bay Lightning (15-11-3) host the Boston Bruins (20-6-6) Thursday at Amalie Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET. We analyze the Bruins-Lightning odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Bruins at Lightning: Projected starting goalies

Tuukka Rask vs. Andrei Vasilevskiy

Rask, the confirmed starter, is 13-3-3 through 19 starts, carries a 2.19 goals against average, .927 save percentage and two shutouts into this matchup. He gave up three goals to the Ottawa Senators Monday, stopping 23-of-26 shots in the loss.

Vasilevskiy sports a .910 SV% and 2.82 GAA on the season through 21 starts. He has won three of four December starts, with victories in his last two outings. He stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 2-1 win against the Florida Panthers Tuesday.


Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.


Bruins at Lightning: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Thursday at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Boston 5, Tampa Bay 4

Moneyline (ML)

Boston (+125) is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Washington Capitals last night and is winless (0-3-1) in its last four. The Bruins won’t have rest on their side like the Lightning (-150), who won 2-1 over Florida Tuesday night.

Boston is 8-5-1 on the road and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games overall, while Tampa Bay is just 7-6-1 at home and 5-4-1 over their last 10. I’m bucking the recent Bruins’ trends; BOSTON (+125) is too talented to push the winless skid to five and plus money against a team struggling at home is a value I like to target.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the underdog Bruins to win outright returns a $12.50 profit with a victory in regulation, overtime or a shootout.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

I’m rarely a fan of puck lines; Tampa Bay (-1.5, +165) keeps that tradition alive. Boston (+1.5, -200) has lost by at least three goals in two of its last four games, while six of Tampa Bay’s last 10 have been decided by just one goal. PASS.

Over/Under (O/U)

The tax rate on the OVER 5.5 (-150) is higher than I like, but it’s worth considering for a mid-range wager. Boston is 8-6-0 vs. the Over on the road, while Tampa Bay is 10-3-1 at home. Both of these teams have the talent to light the lamp regularly, with the Bruins averaging 3.5 goals per game and the Lightning averaging 3.6 GPG.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Ryan’s NHL picks record: 4-8

Follow @RyanBonini and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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